I have posted this problem before on "software" but i want to put it here on "hardware" instead. On all kernels after something like 2.6.17 two hard disks on my friends box is not recognized, we don't need them when we boot into Linux but the problem makes the boot time very long and it also mess up usb. One hard disk is an ata hd connected to sata controller vi an adapter-cable, the other is a sata hd, when the ide hd is connected both fails to work. "Unfortunately" it works on both Vista and XP and also as I mentioned on older kernels. Kano suggested to set the hd to legacy mode or ata in Bios, this is not possible on this box (HP Pavilion).
So if there is no way to make this work I wonder if there is a way for GRUB to hide this two hard disks on boot so we can get the boot time down to normal and also maybe get usb to work?